Fresh faces for Baby Boks
Baby Boks coach Dawie Theron has named a completely new side including a number of Under-19 players to take on Argentina Under-20 in Stellenbosch on Tuesday.
The SA Under-20s demolished the Pumitas 51-17 on Saturday, and their coach Theron is using this midweek fixture to expose some of the promising Under-19 talents to rugby at this level.
All these matches form part of the overall SA Under-20 training camp in preparation of the 2012 IRB Junior World Championships, to be staged during June in the Western Cape.
Theron said he was looking forward to giving the younger players in the squad a taste of international rugby. But he realises that the visitors will again be a handful, especially in the tight phases.
He explained: “They will test us in the scrum and the other tight phases, but the young players in the squad have the ideal opportunity to test themselves.
“We did well to keep ourselves in check on Saturday despite the somewhat negative and over-robust approach from them. I realise that this approach will be a huge challenge for our players, but we will have to demonstrate the same discipline and not get too distracted.
“We have been working very hard on our structure and our systems and the players have a good understanding of what the coaches want from them.
“The selection of these young players is in line with our strategic plan and player development programme, which is also aimed at giving them exposure at international level.”
Meanwhile, Sharks utility back Paul Jordaan joined the camp in Cape Town on Monday morning.
Jordaan will be available for the rest of the camp and will be considered for the third and final match on Saturday at the Danie Craven Stadium.
The Pumitas have changed 11 from their team last Saturday and two of the four still there have changed positions.
SA U20 Invitational XV: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Quinton Norris, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Kobus van Wyk, 11 Ruwellyn Isbell, 10 Harold Vorster, 9 Hlanhla Hlungwane, 8 Cobus Nel, 7 Leneve Dames, 6 Shaun Adendorf, 5 Marvin Orrie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Marzuq Maarman.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Henkus van Wyk, 19 Lungelo Chonco, 20 Rayn Smid, 21 Wian van der Walt, 22 TBC, 23 TBC.
Argentina Under-20: 15 Gonzalo Ruiz, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Joaquín Paz, 12 Juan Ignacio Brex, 11 Franco Cuaranta, 10 Sebastián Poet (captain), 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Federico Aguiar, 7 Leandro Ramela, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Rodrigo Parad Heit, 4 Ladislao Uriburu, 3 Mariano Sánchez, 2 Germán Lefort, 1 Matías Sambrán
Replacements: 16 Santiago García Botta, 17 Santiago Iglesias, 18 Tomás Bruno, 19 Gaspar Oberti, 20 Lautaro Casado, 21 Rodolfo Ambrosio, 22 Juan Cappiello, 23 Germán Klubus
Date: Tuesday, April 17
Venue: Markötter Stadium, Stellenbosch
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: François Groenewald (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
